Hobby is one of Europe's largest and most established recreational vehicle manufacturers, best known for its market-leading caravan range but also producing a comprehensive lineup of motorhomes and van conversions. Built in Germany's largest and most advanced RV production facilities, Hobby motorhomes combine German engineering precision with competitive pricing.

The motorhome range spans several model families:

The Siesta — Hobby's most popular motorhome range, available as van conversions, semi-integrated low-profiles and overcab models. The Siesta offers an excellent quality-to-price ratio and has been the entry point for thousands of European motorhomers.

The Optima — positioned between the Siesta and Premium ranges, the Optima combines design sophistication with practical functionality. Available in up to 11 layout variants, from compact 6.7m models to spacious 7.5m configurations.

The Premium — Hobby's top-specification motorhome range, including the Premium Van and Premium Drive series. These models set new standards in design within the Hobby lineup, with elegant interiors and comprehensive equipment levels.

The Vantana — Hobby's dedicated van conversion range, featuring innovative solutions like the award-winning SlimLine refrigerator. The Vantana brings Hobby's engineering expertise to the growing camper van market.

Hobby motorhomes are characterised by meticulous attention to detail, modern interior layouts and a premium standard equipment package that typically includes features other manufacturers charge extra for.

Hobby was founded by Harald Striewski in the late 1960s in Fockbek, near Rendsburg in northern Germany. The company began as a caravan manufacturer and grew rapidly to become the largest caravan manufacturer in Europe, with a market share exceeding 25% — a position it has held for many years.

The company expanded into motorhome production, reaching a milestone with its 25,000th motorhome while also seeing its 600,000th caravan roll off the production line. The significance of Hobby in German industry was underlined when Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the Fockbek factory.

Unlike most major European motorhome manufacturers, Hobby has remained privately owned by the Striewski family throughout its history. It has never been absorbed into the Trigano, THOR/Hymer or other corporate groups, giving it complete independence in design, manufacturing and brand direction.

Hobby's Fockbek production facility is among the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world. The company has been responsible for numerous industry innovations, including the automatic reversing system, hot-dip galvanised chassis, cassette toilet development and the CI-BUS on-board management system.

Today, Hobby remains a dominant force in the European recreational vehicle market, with a comprehensive range of caravans, motorhomes and van conversions sold across the continent through an extensive dealer network.

World-leading caravan expertise — while Hobby's caravan dominance doesn't automatically translate to motorhomes, it does mean the company brings unrivalled expertise in habitation area construction, insulation, furniture making and quality control. The motorhomes benefit from decades of RV manufacturing knowledge.

Industry-leading innovation — Hobby has pioneered numerous technologies that are now industry standard, including the automatic reversing system, hot-dip galvanised chassis, cassette toilet and the CI-BUS on-board management system. This culture of innovation is evident across the motorhome range.

Generous standard specification — Hobby motorhomes typically include equipment as standard that competitors charge extra for. The philosophy is to deliver a fully equipped vehicle rather than a base model that requires expensive options.

Safety award-winning construction — Hobby has won the German Camping Club Safety Award for exemplary implementation of safety standards (DIN, VDE, CEN and ISO). Build quality and safety engineering are genuine priorities rather than marketing claims.

Competitive pricing for German quality — as a high-volume manufacturer with world-class production facilities, Hobby can deliver genuine German engineering quality at prices that undercut many competitors. The Siesta range in particular offers exceptional value.

If you want German quality without premium prices — Hobby's massive production scale and family ownership allow it to price motorhomes competitively while maintaining genuine German manufacturing standards. The Siesta range offers some of the best value in the German motorhome market.

If standard equipment matters — Hobby's generous standard specification means less time agonising over options lists and fewer surprises when the final price is calculated. What you see is largely what you get.

If you're familiar with Hobby caravans — many Hobby motorhome buyers come from Hobby caravans and appreciate the familiar build quality, design philosophy and dealer network. The transition is natural and the quality expectations are met.

If innovation and safety are priorities — Hobby's track record of industry firsts and safety awards provides genuine reassurance. The CI-BUS management system, in particular, offers sophisticated monitoring and control of all onboard systems.

If you want a strong European dealer network — Hobby's caravan market dominance means an extensive dealer network across Europe, making servicing and parts availability more straightforward than smaller manufacturers, particularly for continental touring.

Less well-known for motorhomes in the UK — while Hobby is synonymous with caravans across Europe, the motorhome range is less familiar to UK buyers. This lower motorhome-specific brand recognition can affect resale values in the UK market.

Limited UK dealer representation — Hobby's UK motorhome dealer network is smaller than its caravan network and considerably smaller than domestic manufacturers. Servicing may require travel to specialist importers.

Most models are left-hand drive only — many Hobby motorhomes are only available in left-hand drive, limiting the UK-market options. While some models are offered in RHD, the choice is narrower than with UK-focused manufacturers.

Fiat Ducato dependency — the motorhome range is predominantly built on Fiat Ducato chassis, with all the standard Ducato maintenance considerations and no alternative base vehicle options.

Design can feel conservative — Hobby motorhome interiors, while well-built, can feel more conservative and traditional than Italian or French competitors. The design philosophy prioritises durability and function over visual flair.

Used market for UK-spec models is limited — the smaller number of right-hand drive Hobby motorhomes means fewer options on the used market compared to mainstream UK or German brands like Swift, Bailey or Hymer.

Verify UK specification carefully — confirm the vehicle is right-hand drive with UK-compatible gas systems and electrical connections. Many used Hobby motorhomes in the UK are continental imports — check the V5C for import indicators and verify all systems have been properly converted.

Check the CI-BUS system — Hobby's onboard management system is sophisticated and controls many vehicle functions. Test it thoroughly and ensure the display shows correct readings for all systems. Faults in the CI-BUS can be complex and expensive to diagnose.

Conduct a thorough damp check — while Hobby's build quality is generally excellent, use a calibrated damp meter on all walls, around windows and doors, and particularly around any rooflights or aerial fittings.

Check the Fiat Ducato base vehicle — verify cam belt replacement history, test clutch operation and gearbox condition. Standard Ducato inspection protocols apply — these are the most common failure points on any Ducato-based motorhome.

Research the specific model — with multiple model families and many layout variants, ensure you understand exactly which model you're looking at and what equipment should be included as standard for that specification level.

Check dealer support availability — before purchasing, identify your nearest Hobby-qualified dealer for habitation servicing and warranty work. The smaller UK network means forward planning for maintenance is important.

Hobby provides manufacturer warranty coverage on new vehicles, with terms that reflect the brand's confidence in its build quality. When buying used, check the warranty status and ensure all required servicing has been maintained.

Given the potentially limited UK dealer network and the complexity of the CI-BUS management system, an independent warranty backed by the RAC is recommended for used Hobby motorhome purchases, particularly for imported or ex-continental models where the service history may be harder to verify.

OakTree Motorhomes offer up to three years of RAC-backed warranty, providing peace of mind on a German-built motorhome where specialist diagnostic and repair costs can be significant.

When buying a used Hobby, look for a dealer that offers an independent warranty backed by a provider like the RAC. This means your warranty remains valid even if the dealer ceases trading. OakTree Motorhomes offer up to three years of RAC-backed warranty, covering the average ownership period.